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wangotango
05-25-2012, 01:20 AM
First off - super respect for all of you that do this for a living, make it look easy, and display amazing results. Hats off.

As previously mentioned on 5/23 post, began 2 day run at making the Spectra5 shine a bit more than it does now. Overall paint good, some rock chips but it has 100k miles.

Washed with deterg. Clay bar. Wash with nice mother's wash. water blade and hand dry completely. The I get after it with the GG paint glaze with my GG 6". Fugured this is a simple cleaning step on paint that I (beginner at best) thought was ok. Used the orange 6" GG pad. The battle raged on for hours. The pad felt like I had strapped a 2x4 to a side grinder. Put on appropriate amount (I think) and did the usual pattern weaving and tried to wipe it off. I wiped like a mofo, repeatedly, with monotonous regularity. Just installed 8 fabulous 48" 2-bulb fixtures with some sweet 5000k bulbs. Still had to go to the 150w on a cord to go over and over the surface to find spots I thought were wiped off.
Luckily the UPS guy came right in the middle of things.

Went inside, got a cigar and a vodka tonic.

Removed GG orange pad and (with proper backing plate) installed a newly arrived 5.5" LC CCS blue pad. I could feel the entire surface, I could feel like I had resumed control. My confidence soared. Not really sure how I'm gonna get that pad clean. Feels like a wax (they all began to laugh).

I also used the GG 3" DA with the red pads that comes with kit. They allowed me to have more feel for what I was doing. Unlike the orange brick on the 6" DA.

Finally all of the GG paint glaze is gone, wiped off, no residue.

Went inside, had a piece of pizza and brought a vodka tonic to the garage.

Used a new 5.5 LC CCS blue pad on the 6" and a new red pad on the 3" and began to apply Wolfgang sealant 3.0. Applied easily. Very easily. And I'm a complete hack at this point. Wiped off easily. Very easily. Shines like a new dime! One word-WOW.

Will apply liquid sovereign tomorrow morning after mimosas in the hot tub, breakfast, and a cigar. Think I'm gonna get away with it. But my lord what a battle that paint glaze was. The pads that were used for the WG 3.0 cleaned up like new in the sink.

I think I should have done something other than the glaze or maybe a few more steps before the glaze. I appreciate any advice.
But tomorrow morning ...I'M GOIN" IN!

BobbyG
05-25-2012, 07:39 AM
Glazes have their place. They're designed to fill those unsightly little surface defects making the finish look dazzling.......but this affect is only temporary..

Glazes have been around for a long time and one of the first I used was Meguiar's #7 Show Car glaze. This product contains all sorts of oil and nutrients that leave a gorgeous wet shine but it has no durability at all and as I mentioned above, it's effects are only temporary.

Proper finish correction eliminates the use of a glaze as this process mechanically removes swirls and other like defects. Polishing also removes grime and oxidation revealing a fresh new layer of paint.

Here's some great information by Mike Phillips that will help you if you need it.


Sectional Pass With a DA Polisher (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-car-garage-how-videos/24074-show-car-garage-video-how-do-section-pass-when-machine-polishing-da-polisher.html)
Removing Swirls (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/tricks-tips-techniques/20021-definitive-how-article-removing-swirls-scratches-water-spots-using-porter-cable-7424xp-g110v2-griot-s-garage-polisher.html)
DA Trouble Shooting Guide (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/37769-da-polisher-trouble-shooting-guide.html)
Waxing With a DA Polisher (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/pinnacle-wax/28651-how-machine-apply-wax-using-da-polisher.html)


Wash - Duragloss #901 (http://www.autogeek.net/duragloss-car-wash-concentrate.html)
Clay - Mothers (http://www.autogeek.net/motcalgolcla.html)
Compound - PG 1000 – PowerGloss Compound (http://www.autogeek.net/menzerna-powergloss-compound.html) (POS34A)
Polish - PF 2500 – Power Finish Polish (http://www.autogeek.net/menzerna-polish-po203.html) (PO203)
Finishing Polish - SF 4000 – Super Finish Polish (http://www.autogeek.net/menzerna-nano-polish-po-106-fa-finishing-polish.html) (PO106FA)
Sealant - Ultima Paint Guard Plus (http://www.autogeek.net/ultima-paint-guard-plus.html)
Wax - Collinite 845 (http://www.autogeek.net/collinite-insulator-wax-845.html)

wangotango
05-25-2012, 11:58 AM
Thanks Bobby.
That makes sense about the glaze. Explains some of the things I was dealing with.
I'll be doing a little more research (like I shoulda done earlier).

How do you get that paint glaze outta the pads?

BobbyG
05-25-2012, 12:09 PM
Thanks Bobby.
That makes sense about the glaze. Explains some of the things I was dealing with.
I'll be doing a little more research (like I shoulda done earlier).

How do you get that paint glaze outta the pads?

I'll spray them with an all purpose cleaner, let them soak, then toss them into a bucket of hot water and citrus wash...

If it's an oil base that becomes stubborn then I'll give the pad a few sprays of regular old mineral spirits to loosen things up then wash as indicated above...

wangotango
05-25-2012, 12:53 PM
Will do.
Do you think that the GG paint glaze is the stubborn pads I'm seeing or the WG sealant?
OK. OK. I'll start labeling my pads now.

bobble
05-25-2012, 02:15 PM
Any oil based or solvent based product is a PITA to clean off of pads. Read the label or smell the product and you'll know. Spray with a solvent cleaner like mineral spirits and then wash as BobbyG described.
I personally do not mix and match pads, by that I mean pads used for one product line are only used with that product. Thats way any residue from those products is not mixed into another.
I have plastic shoe boxes from Walmart (.98 ea) and they are labeled according to the products I use IE Duragloss, Menzerna, Meguiars etc.. The box with my LSP pads (Waxes glazes and such) are in zipolocs inside the box and I usually only use one or two pads per car for a sealant application or glaze. The only pads I mix up are ones for applying carnauba waxes, use the same pad for those regardless of product if machine applied.
Once a pad is spent, usually the velcro backing delaminates on them I use them for odd ball touch ups or tires and wheels.
Liquid Souveran is a breeze especially machine applied, I did a whole C class MBZ last week in 30 minutes with it. I did the front clip then wiped off, the sides wipe off and lastly rear clip wipe off. It's so easy to apply and remove, use your blue or red pad for it. Perfect for mimosas and breakfast wax jobs.

wangotango
05-25-2012, 04:02 PM
Yeah bobble! I'm gonna organize and learn some fundamentals.
Kinda like you folks all have.

I was able to figure out that the stubborn pads were WG 3.0.
Reason I know?..pulled car out of garage to admire it in the sunlight. Heard what sounded like a full bottle of synthetic sealant explode under tha car. Wiped up with a towel. Couldn't clean out towel for re-wipe. AH HAH!!! It's the sealant that's a mofo to clean.
Dammit, I'm a genius.

The smartest people are usually are the best listeners.

Appreciate the effort folks!!